Jesus Goes to His Home Town

6 1Jesus left there and went back to his
home town. His followers went with him.
2On the Sabbath day* Jesus taught in the synagogue.* Many
people heard him teach and were amazed. These people said, "Where did
this man get this teaching? How did he get this wisdom? Who gave it to
him? And where did he get the power to do miracles*?
[Surely, not from God!]
3He is only the carpenter. And his mother is
Mary. He is the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon. And his
sisters are here with us." The people did not accept Jesus.
4Jesus said to the people, "Other people
give honor to a prophet.* But in his own
town with his own people and in his own home, a prophet does not get
honor."
5Jesus was not able to do many miracles* in that town. The only miracles he did were to heal some sick people by
putting his hands on them.
6Jesus was very surprised because those
people did not have faith. Then Jesus went to other villages in that
area and taught.

Jesus Sends His Apostles on a Mission

7Jesus called the twelve followers
together. Jesus sent them out in groups of two. Jesus gave them power
over evil spirits.
8This is what Jesus told his followers:
"Take nothing for your trip. Take only a stick for walking. Take no
bread, no bag, and no money in your pockets.
9Wear shoes, and take only the clothes you
are wearing.
10When you enter a house, stay in that house
until you leave that town.
11If any town refuses to accept you or
refuses to listen to you, then leave that town. Shake their dust off
your feet.* This will be a warning to
them."
12The followers left there and went to
other places. They talked to the people and told them to change their
hearts and lives.
13The followers forced many demons* out of people. And the followers put olive oil on* sick people and healed them.

Herod Thinks Jesus Is John the Baptizer

14King Herod* heard about Jesus, because Jesus was now famous. Some people said, "[He
(Jesus) is] John the Baptizer. He is risen from death. That is
why he can do these miracles.*"
15Other people said, "He is Elijah.*"
Other people said, "Jesus is a prophet.* He is like the prophets that lived long ago."
16Herod* heard these things about Jesus. He said, "I killed John by cutting off
his head. Now John has been raised from death!"

How John the Baptizer Was Killed

17Herod* himself had ordered his soldiers to arrest John. So John was put into
prison. Herod did this to please his wife, Herodias. Herodias was the
wife of Philip, Herod's brother. But then Herod married Herodias.
18John told Herod that it was not right for
him to be married to his brother's wife.
19So Herodias hated John. She wanted to kill
him. But Herodias was not able to persuade Herod to kill John.
20Herod was afraid to kill John. Herod knew
that all the people thought John was a good and holy man. So Herod
protected John. Herod enjoyed listening to John preach. But John's
message always bothered Herod.
21Then the right time came for Herodias
to cause John's death. It happened on Herod's* birthday. Herod gave a dinner party for the most important government
leaders, the commanders of his army, and the most important people in
Galilee.
22The daughter of Herodias came to the party
and danced. When she danced, Herod and the people eating with him were
very pleased.
So King Herod* said to the girl,
"I will give you anything you want."
23Herod promised her, "Anything you ask for I
will give to you. I will even give you half of my kingdom."
24The girl went to her mother and asked,
"What should I ask King Herod* to give
me?"
Her mother answered, "Ask for the head of John the Baptizer."
25Quickly the girl went back in to the
king. The girl said to the king, "Please give me the head of John the
Baptizer. Bring it to me now on a plate."
26King Herod* was very sad. But he had promised to give the girl anything she wanted.
And the people eating there with Herod heard his promise. So Herod did
not want to refuse the thing she asked for.
27So the king sent a soldier to cut off
John's head and bring it. So the soldier went and cut off John's head in
the prison.
28Then the soldier brought John's head back
on a plate. He gave the head to the girl. Then the girl gave the head to
her mother.
29John's followers heard about what happened.
So they came and got John's body. They put it in a tomb* (grave).

Sabbath day The seventh day of the
Jewish week. It was a special religious day for the Jews.
synagogue(s) Synagogues were places
where Jews gathered for prayer, study of the Scriptures, and other public
meetings.
miracle(s) Amazing works done by God's
power.
prophet A person that spoke for God.
Shake their dust off your feet A
warning. It would show that they were finished talking to these people.
demon(s) Demons are evil spirits from
the devil.
put olive oil on Olive oil was used like
a medicine.
Herod Herod Antipas, tetrarch (ruler) of
Galilee and Perea, son of Herod the Great.
Elijah A man that spoke for God about
850 B.C.
tomb A grave dug in a wall of rock.